Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu Part 2 Episode 6 Discussion

I'm rewatching S1 right now in preparation for watching S2; the last episode and this episode still holds up to be the best. However it still bothers me how Paul gets setup for so much undeserved hate, and I'm kind of convinced the anime did it on purpose to build up to this episode's resolution. I think the worse thing Paul has been shown doing is getting Lilia pregnant, but the anime ends up making Paul responsible for 100% of the blame despite the blame mostly lying with Lilia. Think about it, Lilia is bare minimum 50% at fault, but because she admits to seducing Paul into it, she's greater than 50% responsible, making Paul less than 50% responsible. It doesn't matter if Paul's horny all the time, he wasn't shown to be actively chasing Lilia, blaming Paul for being easily seduced is like blaming the person scammed more than the scammer. Anyways, I think the infidelity incident was brilliantly setup to make the audience not want to side with Paul for last episode's reunion because another thing about the infidelity incident is it showed Rudy's lowkey contempt or lack of respect for Paul since the beginning. Something I noticed with earlier episodes is Rudy's inner monologue (his true character) always seemed to have some disdain for Paul. The tone and way Rudy's inner voice refers to Paul seems like he's looking down on Paul, or has some unconscious jealousy towards him. I don't think Rudy's inner voice has ever referred to Paul as "father" until this episode when he makes up with him. I think Rudy finally accepted Paul as his father, and I think Rudy's estranged relationship with his past life family in Japan hindered his ability to bond properly with Paul.

I also want to point out some things with last episode's disastrously reunion, and this episode reconciliation: Rudy's mostly at fault. The whole reason why Rudy's in a depressed state after the reunion is because Rudy realized he was wrong, not because the argument was traumatic for him. The self-admitted problem with Rudy is he can argue his way out of anything, this is why Paul knocks him out to send him to Eris' place to work...Paul didn't want Rudy to argue his way out of it. The reason why Paul was getting more and more pissed during the reunion was not only because Rudy screw up by telling his story so positively, but Paul really did think Rudy got his messages of how messed up tragic the mana calamity was, and was trying to argue his way out of it by lying he didn't know. Paul really did think Rudy was infuriatingly playing around while everybody else was suffering, and Paul was only convinced that Rudy didn't know after Norm came in and pushed Rudy down. The breaking point for Paul was when Rudy, in his "weaseling out of arguments" mode, mocked him of cheating with that bikini woman on Zenith and Lilia, whom Rudy was too ignorant to know was still in danger. Of course Rudy didn't know, but that doesn't make it any less massively inappropriate. But here's the thing about Rudy, when he was walking away and found out everything and everybody in his home area was gone, especially his missing family and Sylphie, that's when Rudy dropped his "weaseling out of arguments" mode and knew he goofed bad. That's why he so messed up depressed, and especially why this episode he questions Paul "what do you have to apologize for?" when Paul says that's what he's come for, Rudy knows he's in the wrong he just wouldn't admit it last episode because he was trying to win the argument. Even more, Rudy admitted he had it easy when Paul acknowledge that Rudy must have had it hard coming back, why would Rudy admit that to Paul if it wasn't true? Even Paul didn't know how to respond to that admission, Rudy was finally being truthful.

I feel I got to point this out because people still seem to believe Paul was wrong, and are still hating on him. It only seems like Paul's wrong because Rudy makes small mistakes which he admits to in his inner voice, but doesn't admit by saying it and instead tries to weasel in arguments to win which makes things more messy, and confusing. I think there's also some misunderstanding with Rudy's flashback of Rudy overacting with his friend, his friend trying to cheer up Rudy and Rudy being in the wrong is analogous to Paul being the friend, but in Paul's case he actually came back whereas Rudy's friend did not. Rudy regretted over-reacting to his friend, but didn't have the humility to contact his friend to apologize. Here, Rudy still didn't have the humility to contact Paul (remember, he thought about doing so, but threw up out the window, and didn't), but Paul came back because he did have the humility to do so. The reason why Paul had to be convinced into it by Geese is because Paul's priorities were all screwed up by that messy argument he had with Rudy, there was unfortunate misunderstandings galore in that argument. Paul got so worked up by Rudy making him think Rudy could have done better, that Paul couldn't rationalize he should just be happy Rudy's back safe. Also I should point out when Paul said to Rudy he "could have done better", notice Rudy was trying to say "that's not true" but couldn't quite say it like he knew he was caught lying, and notice Paul's eyes squints in suspicion when that happened.

Anyways regardless, that was some real top notch writing and execution by the anime. Massively good character deepening for Paul, and character growth for Rudy. Good on the bartender for keep the conversation going, and good on Rudy for fixing his mistakes. Rudy realized he never gave Paul enough credit, finally admits Paul is way ahead of him despite being younger than him, and finally calls him father in his inner voice. Rudy also gives Paul the correct reunion with his long lost son that Paul actually desperately needed but was robbed out of last episode. I think it could be misunderstood as Paul's fault for that, but really it was Rudy making the mistake of try to impress Paul with an embellished tale rather than this heartfelt second go at it, and the unfortunate way they found each other.

Think you may be missing the purpose. Both Rudeus & Paul are at fault. Since you're well aware how inconsiderate Rudeus is, let's look at Paul. Rather than being overjoyed that his son returned, he chastises Rudeus. This doesn't come purely from a place of fatherly love; it taps into some real dark emotions visible on Paul. Imagine seeing your son for the first time in 7 years, not knowing if he was alive or not, only to rebuke him for being adequate rather than excellent. If Paul had brought it up tactfully, it would've been much easier for Rudeus to understand how thoughtless he was. Instead, Paul wounded him.
Rudeus is (as far as anyone knows) an 11-year old boy. As Geese discussed, that Rudeus is even alive after everything should be praised. While he still has a ways to grow, he's beyond any reasonable expectation for a boy as is. Ruijerd (who, reminder, killed his own son) says it quite plainly to Paul that any grievance means nothing to the simple fact that Rudeus is alive.


As for Paul's infidelity from the first novel, that was strategic on Rudeus' part. While he didn't know Lilia seduced Paul, he pinned the blame entirely onto Paul, as that was the only way to prevent Lilia from being cast out of the household by Zenith. By absolving Lilia of all blame by portraying it as Paul forcing himself onto Lilia, any rage Zenith directed at Lilia was replaced by pity. Yes, Lilia is mostly to blame as she was the one who seduced Paul, but any other option would've resulted in Lilia & Aisha being expelled. Zenith, understandably, wouldn't be too keen on living with her husband's mistress.